Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn (family Malvaceae), known as the Chinese hibiscus, is an evergreen flowering shrub native to East Asia. It is also known as China rose and the shoe flower. It is widely grown as an ornamental plant throughout the tropics and subtropics. The flowers are large, (generally red in the original varieties), firm, but generally lack any scent. Numerous varieties, cultivars and hybrids are available, with flower colors ranging from white through yellow and orange to scarlet and shades of pink, with both single and double sets of petals.
Despite their size and red hues attractive to nectar-feeding birds, they are not visited regularly by hummingbirds when grown in the Neotropics. Generalists, (like the //Sapphire-spangled Emerald//, Amazilia lactea) or long-billed species (like the Stripe-breasted Starthroat. Heliomaster squamosus) may occasionally be seen to visit it, however. In the subtropical and temperate Americas, hummingbirds are attracted to them on a regular basis.
The Hibiscus flower basking in the sun.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn (family Malvaceae), known as the Chinese hibiscus, is an evergreen flowering shrub native to East Asia. It is also known as China rose and the shoe flower. It is widely grown as an ornamental plant throughout the tropics and subtropics. The flowers are large, (generally red in the original varieties), firm, but generally lack any scent. Numerous varieties, cultivars and hybrids are available, with flower colors ranging from white through yellow and orange to scarlet and shades of pink, with both single and double sets of petals.
Despite their size and red hues attractive to nectar-feeding birds, they are not visited regularly by hummingbirds when grown in the Neotropics. Generalists, (like the //Sapphire-spangled Emerald//, Amazilia lactea) or long-billed species (like the Stripe-breasted Starthroat. Heliomaster squamosus) may occasionally be seen to visit it, however. In the subtropical and temperate Americas, hummingbirds are attracted to them on a regular basis.
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